Adult attachment in obesity with or without bed: how does it relate with personality and psychopathology?

Introduction: Binge-Eating Disorder is an ED strictly related to obesity. Early attachment troubles are relevant risk factors for the development of all EDs and obesity. Less is known about the relationship of adult attachment with the psychopathology of BED and obese subjects. Objectives: exploring the relationship between adult attachment, personality and psychopathology features of BED and nonBED obese subjects to highlight the relevance of attachment for outburst and maintenance of the disorders. Methods: obese participants with (n=244) or without BED (n=199) and healthy controls (n=158) were assessed with TCI, SCL-90, EDI-2, BDI-II, STAXI, BES, BSQ, ASQ. The three groups were compared and the differential characteristics were related within each group. Results: both BED and nonBED obese subjects displayed insecure adult attachment with respect to controls. BED subjects displayed the lowest thrust and intimacy, the highest preoccupation for relationships, need for approval, and relationships avoidance with respect to other groups. Obese participants displayed higher novelty seeking and harm avoidance, and lower self-directedness than controls. Psychopathology was higher in obese participants with respect to controls. Attachment scores were related to altered personality and psychopathology scores in the obese participants. The statistical analysis suggests a direction of the relationship from attachment to psychopathology. Conclusions: adult attachment is altered in obese subjects with or without BED. It relates with their altered personality and psychopathology traits. As for early attachment inBNsubject, altered adult attachment may represent a relevant trigger or a core psychopathology factor for the expression of eating troubles in obese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]